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- Hyperhomocysteinemia: how does it affect the development of cardiovascular disease?Publication . Cardoso, Inês LopesHomocysteine is an amino acid with an SH group, metabolised by the remethylation and transsulfuration pathways. Several genetic and environmental factors (like deficient nutrition status, systemic disease or consumption of certain drugs), can lead to changes in the levels of plasma homocysteine. Nowadays, hyperhomocysteinemia is considered an important and independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Several pathological mechanisms have been proposed for the effect of hyperhomocysteinemia in the development of cardiovascular disease. Among them are DNA methylation, decreased protein S-nitrosylation, production of reactive oxidative species and decrease in nitric oxide formation. Main strategies being tested for the treatment of this condition involve supplementation of folic acid, vitamins B6, B12 or riboflavin. From these, increased plasma folic acid levels by folate-rich diet or pharmacological supplementation seems to be the most effective.
- C reactive protein and cardiovascular diseasePublication . Cardoso, Inês Lopes; Paulos, Ana TeresaCardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are the first cause of death in developed countries, therefore it is of interest to reduce this public health problem. The development of atherosclerosis is the main cause of CVD. This pathology results from the accumulation of lipids in the arterial wall, that leads to a complex inflammatory process. Inflammatory biomarkers are a valuable tool in the detection and monitorization of the evolution of this process, as well as in the choice of therapy to implement. C-Reactive Protein (CRP), determined by high sensitivity methods (hs-CRP), is the most studied biomarker and stands out among the others, being considered an important marker of inflammation. Its importance comes from the fact that its plasma level is not affected by large diurnal or seasonal variations, and for this reason is indicated as an important mediator of the atherosclerotic process. The goal of this work is to deepen knowledge concerning the importance of C reactive protein as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and discuss how it can be used in primary as well as secondary prevention of CVD. The use of C reactive protein as a biomarker allows detection, monitorization and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
- Homocisteína e a doença cardiovascularPublication . Cardoso, Inês LopesA homocisteína é um aminoácido com grupo SH, metabolizado pelas vias de desmetilação e de transulfuração. A sua concentração plasmática pode estar aumentada como resultado de factores genéticos, fisiológicos ou comportamentais. Entre estes últimos factores estão deficiente estado nutricional, doença sistémica ou uso de determinadas drogas. A hiperhomocisteinémia tem vindo a ser considerada um importante factor de risco, independente de outros factores, para doenças cardiovasculares e aterosclerose. O tratamento desta condição envolve suplementos de ácido fólico, vitaminas B6 ou B12. Homocysteine is an aminoacid with an SH group, metabolised by the demethylation and trans-sulphuration pathways. Its plasma concentration can be raised as a result of genetic, physiologic or behaviour factors. These last ones can be deficient nutrition status, systemic disease or consumption of certain drugs. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is now considered an important and independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Treatment of this condition involves supplementation of folic acid, vitamins B6 or B12.
- Apolipoproteína (a) e a doença cardiovascularPublication . Cardoso, Marina; Cardoso, Inês LopesAs doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) representam a principal causa de morte em países desenvolvidos. Diversos factores, uns controláveis e outros não controláveis, estão envolvidos no seu aparecimento e progressão. Hoje em dia, as apolipoproteínas (apo) têm vindo a ser consideradas indicadores eficazes na previsão de DCV. Uma destas apoproteínas é a apo (a) que sendo estruturalmente homóloga do plasminogénio, é considerada aterogénica. Nível elevado desta apoproteína e consequentemente da lipoproteína (a) é considerado um importante índice de risco para DCV, independente de outros factores.